Rains Continuing in Drought-Ridden West/SW

Weather Summary: A broad upper-level ridge brought above-normal temperatures to the northern half of the United States during this July 23 U.S. Drought Monitor week. Troughs moving in this upper-level flow pushed cold fronts which brought areas of rain east of the Rockies along with outbreaks of cooler air to the northern states. An upper-level low retrograding beneath the ridge brought below-normal temperatures and locally heavy rain to the southern Plains and reinforced the Southwest monsoon.

Looking Ahead: During the next six days (July 24-29), an upper-level trough with associated cool front will dominate the weather east of the Rockies, bringing below-normal temperatures and areas of rain. Half an inch or more of precipitation is forecast from the Plains to the East Coast, except for the Ohio and Tennessee valleys and southern Texas, where very little rain will fall. An inch or more may fall from the western Great Lakes to Nebraska, and from Arkansas to Mississippi, bringing relief to the newly expanded D0 areas, as well as from Florida to the Mid-Atlantic coastal areas. The heaviest rains (2 inches or more) are forecast for parts of Kansas and Oklahoma. Monsoon rains are predicted to continue for the Southwest to central Rockies states, with up to an inch across much of New Mexico and Colorado.

Otherwise, above-normal temperatures are forecast for the West beneath an upper-level ridge with little to no rainfall for the Northwest and coastal California.

The NWS 6-10 day and 8-14 day forecasts (for July 30-August 7) show the highest likelihood of above-normal precipitation for the northern Plains to Great Lakes, then extending down to the Southeast, and the highest likelihood for below-normal precipitation from the Pacific Northwest to the southern Plains.

Above-normal temperatures are expected for the Southwest into western Texas, and for coastal New England, while below-normal temperatures are anticipated for the Southeast, northern Plains to western Great Lakes, and coastal Northwest. The southern two-thirds of Alaska should be warmer and drier than normal with the north wetter than normal.